SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Microwave Radiometer System
- Notice Date
- 1/24/2018
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 334515
— Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B130, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1410, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1410
- Solicitation Number
- SB1341-18-RQ-0176
- Point of Contact
- Tracy M Bisson, Phone: 3019758448
- E-Mail Address
-
tracy.bisson@nist.gov
(tracy.bisson@nist.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- DESCRIPTION: The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price purchase order, on a sole source basis, with ATS Services Ltd.; Barkhausenweg 35 Auriga Drive, Unit 213, Ottawa, ON Canada K2E 8B7 for the purchase of a Microwave Radiometer for NIST's Remote Sensing Group (RSG) of the Sensor Science Division (SSD). The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) by the authority of FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The NIST SSD is working on a project to use an optical/infrared telescope system to make accurate spectral and radiometric measurements of the light from certain standard stars. This group is also working on a project to perform similar measurements on light from the moon. These NIST measurements will then serve as standard calibration spectra for multiple stakeholders who in turn operate other astronomical instruments and satellite instruments and that periodically view the standard stars and the moon. The measurements will be made from high altitude mountain observatories to maximize the amount of measurement time with clear night skies and to minimize the amount of water vapor along the optical path. This equipment acquisition is for a passive microwave atmospheric water vapor and temperature monitoring radiometer system (henceforth called a microwave radiometer) that can be user-located and user-relocated to a variety of different high altitude astronomical observatory locations, such as Cerro Paranal in Chile (2635 m altitude) or Mauna Loa in Hawaii (3394 m altitude), and be pointed by the user towards the stars or the moon. The proposed acquisition stated above is intended to be used alongside an astronomical telescope, and pointed at the same star (or moon) as the telescope, to monitor the atmospheric conditions along the optical path to the star (or moon) during nearly clear-sky, low-humidity, nighttime conditions. The system will usually be outside during operation. It will often also remain outside during periods of non-operation, and exposed to a much wider range of weather conditions than those encountered during its use for measurements, and it therefore must be able to survive, but not operate, when exposed to weather conditions that include events such as rain, fog, wind, and snow. The astronomical telescope itself is not part of this acquisition. ATS Services Ltd. is the sole reseller for this product. The reason is microwave radiometers for atmospheric water vapor measurement usually operate at sea level for weather forecasting operations, and utilize the 25 GHz water vapor absorption line. For high altitude mountain-top (generally >2000 meters above sea level) applications such as NIST's astronomical application, the remaining atmosphere is very dry, and the 25 GHz water vapor line does not provide an optimal signal. In this application, only a 183 GHz water vapor line provides a signal strong enough to meet the mission requirements. Market research methods including a sources sought notice posted on FBO indicated that Radiometer Physics GmbH (RPG) is the sole manufacturer of a product that meets this requirement and ATS Services Ltd. is sole North American reseller for this product. Delivery shall be FOB Origin and shall be completed in accordance with the Contractor's commercial schedule. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334515 and the size standard is 750 employees. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern on February 7, 2018. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to tracy.bisson@nist.gov. No telephone requests will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NIST/AcAsD/SB1341-18-RQ-0176/listing.html)
- Record
- SN04798039-W 20180126/180124231120-241fd69b8f1004937af81637aa3d9aac (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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